Post Job

Substance Abuse Counselor resume examples for 2025

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted Expert
Jennifer Randles Ph.D.

Substance abuse counselor resume research summary. We analyzed 5,134 substance abuse counselor resumes to determine which ones land the most jobs. Below you'll find example substance abuse counselor resumes that can help you get an interview (and a job offer) from companies like The GEO Group and Phoenix House. Here are the key facts about substance abuse counselor resumes to help you get the job:

  • The average substance abuse counselor resume is 410 words long
  • The average substance abuse counselor resume is 0.9 pages long based on 450 words per page.
  • Patients is the most common skill found on resume samples for substance abuse counselors. It appears on 15.9% of substance abuse counselor resumes.

After learning about how to write a professional resume for a substance abuse counselor, make sure your resume checks all the boxes with our AI resume builder.

Resume

Substance Abuse Counselor resume example

Choose from 10+ customizable substance abuse counselor resume templates

Choose from a variety of easy-to-use substance abuse counselor resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your substance abuse counselor resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume
Substance Abuse Counselor Resume

Substance Abuse Counselor resume format and sections

  1. 1

    1. Add contact information to your substance abuse counselor resume

    Your name should be the biggest text on the page and be at or near the top of the document. Your address doesn't need to include your street name or house number - listing your city and state works just fine. Your email address should be professional, but not your current work email address. It's not a good look to use your work email for personal projects (job-searching). Your social media can be included if you have a fully-fledged LinkedIn page or another social media page that showcases your relevant skill set.

    Substance Abuse Counselor Resume Contact Information Example #1

    Dhruv Johnson

    d.johnson@email.com | 333-111-2222 | www.linkedin.com/in/dhruv-johnson

    Do you want to know more?
    How To Write The Perfect Resume Header
  2. 2

    2. Add relevant education to your substance abuse counselor resume

    Your resume's education section should include:

    • The name of your school
    • The date you graduated (Month, Year or Year are both appropriate)
    • The name of your degree

    If you graduated more than 15 years ago, you should consider dropping your graduation date to avoid age discrimination.

    Optional subsections for your education section include:

    • Academic awards (Dean's List, Latin honors, etc. )
    • GPA (if you're a recent graduate and your GPA was 3.5+)
    • Extra certifications
    • Academic projects (thesis, dissertation, etc. )

    Other tips to consider when writing your education section include:

    • If you're a recent graduate, you might opt to place your education section above your experience section
    • The more work experience you get, the shorter your education section should be
    • List your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent and high-ranking degrees first
    • If you haven't graduated yet, you can include "Expected graduation date" to the entry for that school

    Check More About Substance Abuse Counselor Education

    Substance Abuse Counselor Resume Relevant Education Example #1

    Doctoral Degree In Psychology 2012 - 2015

    St. Louis Saint Louis, MO

    Substance Abuse Counselor Resume Relevant Education Example #2

    Doctoral Degree In Psychology 2008 - 2011

    Liberty University Lynchburg, VA

  3. 3

    3. Next, create a substance abuse counselor skills section on your resume

    Your resume's skills section should include the most important keywords from the job description, as long as you actually have those skills. If you haven't started your job search yet, you can look over resumes to get an idea of what skills are the most important.

    Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume's skills section:

    • Include 6-12 skills, in bullet point form
    • List mostly hard skills; soft skills are hard to test
    • Emphasize the skills that are most important for the job

    Hard skills are generally more important to hiring managers because they relate to on-the-job knowledge and specific experience with a certain technology or process.

    Soft skills are also valuable, as they're highly transferable and make you a great person to work alongside, but they're impossible to prove on a resume.

    Example of skills to include on an substance abuse counselor resume

    • Chemical Dependency Skills.
       

      Chemical dependency is a medical condition where a person relies on a chemical or drug in order to continue day-to-day activities. The condition can begin as abuse - where a person displays a clear pattern of substance use, commonly drugs or alcohol - and continue to dependency in which the person continues abusing substances even after problematic events have occurred.

    • Relapse Prevention Skills.
       

      Relapse prevention is a therapy, derived by Marlatt and Donovan in 2005, that targets the cognitive behavior of participants. The therapy is conducted to prevent relapses in patients, by helping them understand and predict those circumstances that trigger a relapse. The therapy facilitates people in developing behavioral strategies, also known as relapse prevention plan, which deals with relapse-oriented situations in advance.

    • Community Resources Skills.
       

      Community resources are a set of resources that are used in the day to day life of people which improves their lifestyle in some way. People, sites or houses, and population assistance can come under the services offered by community resources.

    Top Skills for a Substance Abuse Counselor

    • Patients, 15.9%
    • Substance Abuse Treatment, 11.3%
    • Social Work, 8.2%
    • Crisis Intervention, 8.0%
    • Other Skills, 56.6%
    Not sure which skills are really important?
    3 Big Tips For Listing Skills On Your Resume
  4. 4

    4. List your substance abuse counselor experience

    The most important part of any resume for a substance abuse counselor is the experience section. Recruiters and hiring managers expect to see your experience listed in reverse chronological order, meaning that you should begin with your most recent experience and then work backwards.

    Don't just list your job duties below each job entry. Instead, make sure most of your bullet points discuss impressive achievements from your past positions. Whenever you can, use numbers to contextualize your accomplishments for the hiring manager reading your resume.

    It's okay if you can't include exact percentages or dollar figures. There's a big difference even between saying "Managed a team of substance abuse counselors" and "Managed a team of 6 substance abuse counselors over a 9-month project. "

    Most importantly, make sure that the experience you include is relevant to the job you're applying for. Use the job description to ensure that each bullet point on your resume is appropriate and helpful.

    What experience really stands out on Substance Abuse Counselor resumes?

    Jennifer Randles Ph.D.Jennifer Randles Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

    Chair and Associate Professor, California State University, Fresno

    Research, volunteer/internship, serving-learning, and paid work experiences related to one's intended field stand out most on resumes, as does coursework that reflects a demonstrated commitment to entering that particular field.
    Don't have any experience?
    How To Show Your Experience On a Resume... Even When You Don't Have Any
    Work History Example # 1
    Substance Abuse Counselor
    Colonial
    • Provided secretarial support for the department and five counselors.
    • Counseled children and adolescents in foster care.
    • Counseled sexually abused children and their families.
    • Identified family dynamics and communication patterns.
    • Required training and certifications for my current position include first aid, CPR, and Therapeutic Options, QMHP-A
    Work History Example # 2
    Substance Abuse Counselor
    Gaudenzia
    • Provided addiction and co-occurring counseling Supervised 4 - 10 employees Managed a 24 hour unlocked addictions facility with140 male clients
    • Completed the clinical group notes, as well as individual counseling sessions.
    • Provided comprehensive case management services including connecting clients to family and community based resources.
    • Obtained Counselors Trainee letter to become a new trainee.
    • Conducted and completed intakes, biopsychosocial assessments and other relevant testing to ensure client's suitability for program.
    Work History Example # 3
    Mental Health Technician
    Anka Behavioral Health
    • Performed group facilitation, documentation in charts and communication with supervisor and treatment team.
    • Assisted staff and clients in emergency procedures, infection prevention and control standards, and blood borne pathogen clean-up.
    • Established basic communication between nurses and patients.
    • Participated in all required safety initiatives and maintained CPR certification.
    • Maintained CPR and CPI certification.
    Work History Example # 4
    Counselor
    24 Hour Fitness
    • Trained incoming membership counselors and service representatives on effective sales and product demonstration techniques.
    • Created marketing communications to generate interest throughout the community in order to drive in business.
    • Maintained ongoing communication between attorneys & clients from point of referral/discovery to trial phase, facilitating & expediting case settlements.
    • Assisted in continued development of best practices and training of other counselors.
    • Completed paperwork necessary to facilitate formal admission to hospice.
  5. 5

    5. Highlight substance abuse counselor certifications on your resume

    Specific substance abuse counselor certifications can be a powerful tool to show employers you've developed the appropriate skills.

    If you have any of these certifications, make sure to put them on your substance abuse counselor resume:

    1. Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)
    2. Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC)
    3. Pastoral Counseling Certification
    4. Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor
    5. Certified Professional Counselor
    6. Master Addictions Counselor
    7. National Certified Counselor (NCC)
    8. Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
    9. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
    10. Certified Domestic Violence Counselor (CDVC)
  6. 6

    6. Finally, add an substance abuse counselor resume summary or objective statement

    A resume summary statement consists of 1-3 sentences at the top of your substance abuse counselor resume that quickly summarizes who you are and what you have to offer. The summary statement should include your job title, years of experience (if it's 3+), and an impressive accomplishment, if you have space for it.

    Remember to emphasize skills and experiences that feature in the job description.

    Are you a recent grad?
    Read our guide on how to write a resume summary statement

Common substance abuse counselor resume skills

  • Patients
  • Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Social Work
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Intake Assessments
  • Rehabilitation
  • Excellent Interpersonal
  • Mental Health Issues
  • Criminal Justice
  • Individual Sessions
  • Treatment Services
  • Treatment Programs
  • Chemical Dependency
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Community Resources
  • Drug Abuse
  • Methadone
  • Family Sessions
  • Discharge Summaries
  • Discharge Planning
  • Substance Abuse Issues
  • Clinical Documentation
  • Drug Screens
  • Group Therapy Sessions
  • Mental Illness
  • ASAM
  • Eating Disorders
  • Psychosocial Assessments
  • Family Therapy
  • Community Agencies
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Individual Therapy
  • Substance Abuse Education
  • Group Facilitation
  • Anger Management
  • Community Services
  • OASAS
  • Core Functions
  • IOP
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Referral Services
  • Mental Health Professionals
  • Treatment Plan Reviews
  • Domestic Violence
  • Substance Abuse Problems
  • DUI
  • Substance Abuse Assessments
  • Intake Interviews
  • DWI
  • Substance Abuse Clients

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse community and social services jobs